The other morning I had an invitation to be on a “zoom” call, the new way we all interact with each other. I was invited by the organizer Stacey Kotler who blogs about everything and anything you would ever need to know (send her an email in order to get in her “Stacey’s Circle” stacey.kotler@gmail.com and you will receive her newsletters which are fantastic). And Rachel Levin who is a stylist and who can clean out your closet with you and help you to make room for what you actually need (rachellevinstyle.com). Together we shared helpful tips and answered relevant questions to a full zoom audience.
Here is a brief snapshot of what I shared: When I think about healthy living, I believe there are a few basic ingredients that we all need in our lives (to me these are the building blocks for healthy living).
Healthy clean eating. When our country went into lockdown, we all stocked up on grocery items that we thought we would never see again, from mac n cheese, to canned goods, and bags of snacks and frozen foods and cereals. Some of the items we knew to be healthy and other items we purchased for the novelty of having a sugar cereal in our home. And no matter how big or small your home was, our kitchens became the meeting room for daily breaks. As a result, I received a number of calls for help as many had gained the “quarantine15”. You were not alone if you ate mindlessly as a result of the unnerving stress of COIVD. I suggest that after you finish reading this newsletter, please take a few minutes to go through your fridge and pantry and give away the excess foods. Stacey’s Circle has a relationship with Heart of the Hamptons a local food pantry. Or find a food pantry in your local town. They all need your help! And once we’ve cleaned our pantry and fridge, let’s stock up on healthy granola, fresh fruit and veggies and hummus and water rather than juice and soda. Having foods that are healthy allows you to binge and not feel bad about it later.
Meal plan and meal prep. We all know that what we put into our bodies is so important. And planning what you will eat helps you not go astray. If you want to lose weight, it's important to think about the meals for the day so that when hunger and possibley boredom kick in, you can have a healthy option. Likewise, if you want to gain some weight, you need to think of the right food combinations to eat. Planning meals for the days and the weeks, allowing for healthy flexibility is important to healthy living.
Daily exercise. Set your intentions. I like to do this the night before. I think about what tomorrow will look like (what do I have to do) and more importantly, what I want my day to look like. I always start my day with some form of exercise. Pre-COVID I was an avid gym goer. When COVID closed the gyms I had to make other arrangements. I bought some weights, some bands, a jump rope, a bosu ball and a mat and made some space in my home (actually in my outdoor shed) for my new routine. Now, I love my outdoor workouts more than I ever thought! Some of my friends and clients purchased online pilates, yoga and other fitness classes. Others began socially distant walking groups. Whatever it is that makes your heart beat and your muscles toned, do something. This is a combination of both motivation and discipline. Capture your motivation and discipline yourself to do it every day or as many days as you can handle and work your way up to a daily routine. I encourage you to find a time that works for you on a regular basis. It could be mornings, afternoon lunch break or before dinner. There is no right or wrong time to put exercise into your day or night.
Clean out your mind. Make time for yourself. Find something that you enjoy doing that is separate from work. Maybe it’s going for a walk around your neighborhood or an excursion to the park. Maybe it’s a bike ride or just finding a nice place to read a novel. Or maybe you have an interest in drawing or crafts. There are plenty of ways to take time for yourself. So, I encourage you to think about ways you can take time for yourself and maintain your social connections, and how you can best implement your own self care time. When we spend time taking care of ourselves it allows us to be able to take care of others in a calmer healthier way.
Sleep- this is a key ingredient and one that often gets overlooked. Sleep is the most restorative vitamin we can take. We are so tuned into our ipads, phones and computers that we forget to shut down. We are always hearing about ways to limit screen time for our children, but we need to practice what we preach. Think about ways you can relax at night. Maybe it's a warm bath, a cup of herbal tea, giving yourself a foot massage or mediating.
And lastly, drink water- we need to hydrate even when we think we are not thirsty. A rule of mine is drink at least half your body weight in ounces. I always carry a bottle of water with me.
And for more ideas to live healthy, contact me at rachel@livehealthynyc.com